CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #417
Wei Chuan Dragons News: C.C. Mercedes
On December 29, Liberty Sports reported that the Wei Chuan Dragons have signed C.C. Mercedes for the 2026 CPBL season. The 31-year-old Dominican left-hander will be returning for his second season in Taiwan.
According to the report, Cristopher Mercedes’ contract is rumoured to be worth roughly USD 600,000, including performance-based incentives.
CC Mercedes split his 2025 season between Taiwan and Korea. He began the year in the CPBL with the Uni-Lions, where he logged a solid 2.57 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over 84 innings.
As expected, given his strong numbers in Taiwan, the KBO came calling around mid-season, buying out CC Mercedes’ contract from the Uni-Lions for USD 200,000 at the end of July. He went on to finish the remainder of the 2025 season in Korea with the Kiwoom Heroes, posting a 4.47 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 46.1 innings. At the end of the 2025 season, the Heroes decided not to renew his contract for the following season.
With the signing of CC Mercedes, the Wei Chuan Dragons currently have Bryan Woodall (domestic status) and Drew Gagnon as their group of foreign players for the 2026 CPBL season.
Uni-Lions’ C.C. Mercedes struck out 4 over 6 scoreless innings. pic.twitter.com/pyCXENDfLU
— CPBL STATS (Taiwan Dark Lemon) 🪬🔮 (@GOCPBL) April 12, 2025
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a foreign player tracker, and I’ll be updating that list regularly to keep pace with the ever-changing roster shuffle throughout the 2026 CPBL season.
I still like Ricardo Sanchez (age 29 in 2026) and Travis Lakins, Sr. (32) as 2025 Mexican summer/winter leagues pitchers who would be a good fit for CPBL in 2026. Lakins has the better overall 2025 stats and has pitched in 68 MLB major league games. Sanchez didn’t pitch great in Mexico last summer but is the best starter in the Venezuelan Winter League this season. Sanchez had significant KBO experience.